By: UME
Hungary
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Friday, July 16, on the program Kossuth Rádió that it will be possible to register for a third dose of the flu vaccine from August 1 – which can only be given four months after the second . The Hungarian Prime Minister also announced that vaccination will be mandatory for health workers: “We are not in favor of coercion, but we have made a decision: vaccination will be mandatory for health workers. So only those who are vaccinated can work in the health sector. In any case, they have to have a certain number of compulsory vaccinations and this list is getting longer and longer, ”he said. Finally, the Prime Minister announced that on March 30th and 31st
- During a visit to Belgrade on Thursday, July 8th, where he met the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated Hungary’s support for Serbia’s application for membership: short-term interests prevail. This attitude can guarantee the future security and stability of the region, ”he said.
- The President of the Hungarian Parliament, László Kövér, said on Sunday 11 July on the program Kossuth Rádió about the persistent rift between Brussels and Central Europe: “After the Nazis and the Communists, a new totalitarian ambition is about to destroy Europe sometimes called liberalism, posthumanism or some other … green madness “, referring to” haughty politicians who tell us that we are not accepted in the European Union today because of our so-called problems, values and views about the rule of law ” . “We are exposed to a certain aggression and are asked to leave normality behind in a way that is rejected not only by Hungarians but also by the majority of Europeans,” he continued.
- The Hungarian government wants to buy back Ferenc Liszt Airport, which was privatized in 2005 under the government of Ferenc Gyurcsány, and has given the German AviAlliance (a subsidiary of the Canadian pension fund PSP Investments), which holds 55.44% of the shares in Budapest Airport Zrt. holds (23.33% are held by a subsidiary of the Singapore investment fund GIC and 21.23% by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec). Indeed, as the Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics said in an interview with Vasárnap magazine on June 6th: “We don’t want to just acquire a share of the property, but also to be the majority Hungarian owner of Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport […] In 2005 the Gyurcsány government made a wrong political decision that was economically unprofitable in the long run […] for us it is an important question of economic and transport development , even the national strategy ”. AviAlliance has confirmed the offer of the Hungarian government, but does not want to go into it immediately and emphasizes that AviAlliance is a long-term investor and hopes to remain the owner of the Budapest airport: “During the current crisis we have to continue to work on the infrastructure and the operation of the airport invested as we believe in rapid economic recovery and long-term growth potential ”.
- The Hungarian government commissioner for the renovation of Buda Castle and the Citadel Quarter (in Budapest), Gergely Fodor, announced on Monday, July 12th, that Visegrád Castle – where the first alliance between Hungary, Bohemia and Poland was formed in 1335 was – to be restored by 2035 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the alliance in style.
- More and more Hungarian emigrants, who often went to Germany, Great Britain, Austria or North America for economic reasons, are returning to their homeland, and the number of returnees now exceeds the number of emigrants.
Poland
- The new Polish media law is also a serious concern for the European Commission, which is very active on the issue of “LGBT rights” in Poland. Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová said on Twitter on Monday 12 July that the new legislation is a “worrying signal for media freedom and pluralism”, while Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said: “Us is aware of the new legal notice that changes the rules for the distribution of broadcasting licenses. We expect Member States to ensure that their personal policies do not affect the existence of an independent, has a free and diverse media ecosystem […] We are following the situation of media freedom and media pluralism in Poland with growing concern. The Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller defended the text: “The draft [of the law] ensures that no company outside the European Economic Area has a majority stake in media companies in Poland. It is similar to Germany, Austria or France […] In Germany, Austria and France there are the same solutions, and no one claims that anyone there wants to abolish the alliance with other EU countries or the United States. that no company outside the European Economic Area has a majority stake in media companies in Poland. It is similar to Germany, Austria or France […] In Germany, Austria and France there are the same solutions, and no one claims that anyone there wants to abolish the alliance with other EU countries or the United States. that no company outside the European Economic Area has a majority stake in media companies in Poland. It’s similar to Germany, Austria or France […] In Germany, Austria and France there are the same solutions, and nobody claims that there anyone wants to abolish the alliance with other EU countries or the United States.
- On Wednesday July 14th, the Polish Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of two women trying to register a British birth certificate in Poland proving that a child has two mothers and no father, which the Polish registrar had refused – one Decision that was upheld by the Voivodeship Court on April 5, 2018, against which the two “relatives” appealed to the Supreme Court, which ultimately found this request to be incompatible with the basic rules of the Polish legal system.
- Électricité de France (EDF) opened a representative office in Poland on July 12th. On this occasion, the French ambassador in Warsaw, Frédéric Billet, said: “The French government is ready to get involved in Poland in the field of nuclear energy. This preparation is part of the long-term partnership established during President Emmanuel Macron’s very successful visit to Warsaw in 2020 ”, while France’s High Representative for Nuclear Cooperation with Poland, Philippe Crouzet, added:“ We have to defend it, because the Nuclear energy also has enemies in the European Union. This is why it is so important that France and Poland work together so that the EU sees nuclear energy as a crucial element on the road to decarbonisation.
- In Poland, as elsewhere, the number of applicants for the Covid vaccination has steadily decreased in recent weeks. The head of the Polish Prime Minister’s office, Michał Dworczyk, announced on the radio on Wednesday, July 14th, that Poland would resell some of the vaccines it had bought: “In order not to throw away tens of millions of doses of vaccine, [Poland] is going to use the vaccines that may not be used, sell to foreign partners ”. Potential buyers are Georgia, Vietnam, Ukraine, the Balkans and Australia.
- The PiS parliamentary group again has a majority in the Sejm. It had lost its majority – at least in theory – on June 25th when three of its members decided to leave the majority. One of the three “frondeurs”, Magorzata Janowska, decided to join the Republican Party recently founded by Adam Bielan, whose MPs are also part of the United Right group that has formed around the PiS.
- The Polish Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday July 14th that the Polish Army will shortly acquire 250 American third-generation M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks, an investment of over 23 billion zlotys (five billion euros). “We order the most modern tanks in the best equipped version. They have proven themselves in use. The Polish army will be equipped with these tanks from next year, which will strengthen Poland’s defense capability, ”said Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak on the occasion. “These tanks will be in the front line of defense. Your task will be to deter the “potential aggressor”, ie Russia and Belarus.
- The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) exceptionally decided in favor of Poland against Germany and the EU Commission in the dispute over the German-Russian gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2. The concrete result is that the European Commission was not authorized to approve an increase in the capacity of the Opal pipeline in favor of Gazprom. The Opal pipeline, which is connected to the Nord Stream, transports gas through Germany to Central and Western Europe.
- According to a report in the magazine Wprost on Friday, July 16, the Polish government is considering making vaccination compulsory for medical personnel, but rejects general discrimination against unvaccinated people: “If we were to introduce restrictions for unvaccinated people in Poland, we would have a lot larger demonstrations than in France, where 18,000 people are currently demonstrating. We are afraid of unrest … ”, an unnamed member of the government was quoted as saying.
- Another episode in the difficult relations between Warsaw and Brussels: the European Court of Human Rights announced on Friday, July 9th, that it would shortly rule on the judgment of the Polish Constitutional Court of October 22nd, 2020 on abortion and that since 1993 current provisions that allow abortion in cases of severe and irreversible malformations of the fetus or incurable diseases are incompatible with the Polish Constitution. Following this decision by the Polish Constitutional Court, twelve complaints have so far been submitted by Polish nationals to the European Court of Human Rights.
- After the Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday July 14th that the interim measures ordered by the Court of Justice of the European Union were incompatible with the Polish Constitution, the First President of the Supreme Court of Poland ordered the full operation of the Disciplinary Body to be resumed Suspension of the ECJ had demanded: “It is clear from the treaties of the European Union that the Republic of Poland has not given the Union the power to legislate in the field of the administration of justice in the Republic of Poland. According to Art. 176 para.
Slovakia
- In view of the arrival of the so-called delta variant of the coronavirus, the Slovak health authorities decided to intensify the hygiene measures at the borders from July 9 and, in particular, to impose a 14-day quarantine for non-vaccinated people. The Constitutional Court in Bratislava decided on July 14th to suspend these measures.
Czech Republic
- Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek announced on Monday July 12th that the Czech Republic would not take part in the Durban Review Conference (Durban IV), which will be held in New York in September. “I made this decision based on historical concerns about anti-Semitism and the abuse of the platform to attack Israel,” he said on Twitter. “We will continue to fight against racism and discrimination and promote human rights.
Slovenia
- 17.7. As part of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, the European Justice Ministers met for an informal meeting in Brdo pri Kranju (Egg near Krainburg) to discuss legal aspects of artificial intelligence, a child-friendly judiciary and issues relating to digital estates. At the meeting, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders emphasized the primacy of EU law in relation to the proceedings against Poland and Hungary. In the meantime, the Hungarian Justice Minister also met with Prime Minister Janez Janša. “Fruitful discussion with Prime Minister Janez Janša about the priorities and goals of the Presidency of the European Union,” she tweeted. The meeting started in line with the priority of the Slovenian Presidency in the field of justice, namely the protection of fundamental rights in the face of the challenges posed by new technologies and the use of the Internet. The debate was chaired by Minister Marjan Dikaučič as President of the EU Judicial Council. It was also attended by the Director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), Michael O’Flaherty, and the EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.
- 16.7 Under the current government, Radio Television Slovenia is acting extremely unilaterally in fulfilling the requirements of the transition network in Slovenia. For some time now there have been initiatives in certain circles of the public to make the RTV compulsory contribution voluntary. Everything indicates that the campaign to collect signatures for a referendum on the abolition of the compulsory fee for the only national medium will begin on September 1, 2021. Remember that RTV Slovenia collects around 100 million euros in taxpayers’ money from Slovenian taxpayers every year. As announced, signatures will be collected on September 1st for the referendum on the abolition of the compulsory contribution from RTV Slovenia. Around 500.
- 14.7. Yesterday MEPs from the Democratic Party of Slovenia spoke in the European Parliament about the harassment and threats they have received recently. “You will never have more beautiful days, you will never sleep and wake up peacefully. You will always have someone behind you to judge you. You will never have peace in front of me and us, ”MEP Mojca Škrinjar described the attack in front of parliament and said that everything in parliament started with the verbal attacks of the Left Party, but now it has shifted to the streets. MP Janez Moškrič was even threatened with the murder of his family. Prime Minister Janez Janša has also warned that violence against MPs is escalating. A meeting of the DZ or the National Security Council or both will be needed to explain how the police and prosecutors are going to stop this spiral of violence, he believes. MEPs Mojca Škrinjar and Alenka Jeraj, Janez Moškrič and Leon Merjasec spoke about the harassment and threats they received when entering and leaving parliament. Several other MPs have also been attacked in the past few days, including NSi MPs Jožef Horvat and Tadeja Šuštar and SNS MP and President Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti. which they received when entering and leaving Parliament. Several other MPs have also been attacked in the past few days, including NSi MPs Jožef Horvat and Tadeja Šuštar and SNS MP and President Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti. which they received when entering and leaving Parliament. Several other MPs have also been attacked in the past few days, including NSi MPs Jožef Horvat and Tadeja Šuštar and SNS MP and President Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti.
